Equity and Engagement Committee (EEC) Update David Harris, Chair (EEC)

April 17th, 2014

Partnership for Sustainable Communities Six Livability Principles (U.S. Depts. Of Housing & Urban

Development, Transportation, & Environmental Protection Agency)

1. Provide more transportation choices - Develop safe, reliable and economical

transportation choices to decrease household transportation costs.

2. Promote equitable, affordable housing - Expand location- and energy-

efficient housing choices for people of all ages, incomes, races and ethnicities to increase mobility

and lower the combined cost of housing and transportation.

3. Enhance economic competitiveness - Improve economic competitiveness

through reliable and timely access to employment centers, educational opportunities,

services and other basic needs by workers as well as expanded business access to

markets.

4. Support existing communities - Target federal funding toward existing

communities—through such strategies as transit-oriented, mixed-use development and land

recycling—to increase community revitalization, improve the efficiency of public works investments,

and safeguard rural landscapes.

5. Coordinate policies and leverage investment - Align federal policies and

funding to remove barriers to collaboration, leverage funding and increase the accountability and

effectiveness of all levels of government to plan for future growth, including making smart energy

choices such as locally generated renewable energy.

6. Value communities and neighborhoods - Enhance the unique characteristics

of all communities by investing in healthy, safe, and walkable neighborhoods—rural, urban, or

suburban.

• H2050 Goal - To develop a Regional Plan for Sustainable Development. The plan will include the development of several scenarios for future growth that represent different ways of achieving equilibrium between the goals of EQUITY, environmental sustainability, and economic growth in the future development of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan region.

• Equity & Engagement Committee - Required by grant

Equity & Engagement Committee

• Working Definition - Equity means all

individuals and communities have full and

equal access to opportunities that enable

them to attain their full potential.

• “Lifting everyone to prosperity;

providing a hand up, versus

giving handouts down.”

Why Are Equity Goals/Strategies Important to Us All?

• Rural Communities – Address retention of youth; support community development

• Suburban Communities – Poverty is growing fastest in suburban areas; disconnected youth

• Urban Communities – Areas of concentrated poverty; core of region (hub of wheel)

• Region – Preparing for future growth and sustainable development (development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs).

America’s Changing Demographics

America’s Changing Demographics

America’s Changing Demographics

America’s Changing Demographics

America’s Changing Demographics

America’s Changing Demographics

America’s Changing Demographics

What does growing diversity mean for our region?

• Omaha-Council Bluffs is becoming more diverse

• Growth fueled by people of color

• Youth are at the forefront of this demographic transition

• Poverty remains a persistent barrier

• Region will face skills gap unless educational levels improve

• Lower inequality = stronger growth & economic benefits for all

• Diversity is an economic asset

An Equity Framework is a Strategic Investment Opportunity

• Equity goals build on and uplift resident &

community strengths (‘Everyone Wins’)

• Not a social program – full use of regional assets

• Not charity - proven ROI

• Equity = Economic competitiveness

+ Economic prosperity

McKinsey & Co. (6/09) – Closing racial educational achievement

gap between African-American/Latino and white students, by

1998, would have added $525 billion to U.S. GDP by 2008.

(www.mckinsey.com/insights/social_sector/the_economic_cost_of_the_us_education_gap)

Committee Members

•African American Empowerment Network

•Latino Center of the Midlands

•Boys and Girls Club

•No More Empty Pots

•Family Housing Advisory Services

•Douglas County Health Department

•Omaha Public Schools

•inCommon Community Development

•Habitat for Humanity

•Office of Latino/Latin America Studies

•Creighton University

•Eastern Nebraska Community Action Partnership

•Black Men United

•Metro Area Continuum of Care for the Homeless (MACCH)

•Golden Hills Natural Resource District

•Voices for Children

•Family, Inc

•Promise Partners

•Fair Housing Center of Omaha

•Emerging Terrain

•Omaha Housing Authority

Committee Accomplishments

• Outreach & Engagement (30 % of workshop participants/attendees direct result of Equity Committee outreach) (Organized 3 values forums, 3 workshops, and door to door campaigns)

• Development of Equity Framework Definition & Goals

• Initial Development of Equity Indicators

• Participation in HUD Sustainable Communities Leadership Academy

• H2050 Selected for development of Regional Equity Profile (with PolicyLink & USC Program of Environmental & Regional Equity)

Future Committee Activities

• Develop Omaha-region Equity Profile (July)

• Complete development of Equity Indicators

& identify Best Practice Policies and

Programs for specific policy areas (within

H2050 committee structure – People, Places,

Resources) (May – September)

• Convene Regional Equity Summit

(September/October)

Call to Action

• Who’s not here

• Data needs?

• Challenge of facilitating ongoing community

engagement

• Thank you for support

Feedback from Federal Agencies Senior Leadership at various federal agencies

comments on Omaha/Council Bluffs region

regarding applications for funding:

• No comprehensive, regional

development plan.

• Applications did not account for equity.

• Applications did not demonstrate broad,

long-term collaborations required to

address equity going forward

The Three Ps My Promise

• Continue to partner with your staff and vigorously

pursue and encourage federal funding

opportunities where applicable for our region

Your Pledge

• Committed to seeing the region’s development

and prosperity visible to all

Our (O/CB Region) Practice

• Collective consciousness of not just thinking

about equity but its application in planning and

future development

Equity and Engagement

Committee Update (EEC)

David Harris, Chair

April 17th, 2014